Snow Leopard Shot Dead After Escaping UK Zoo Enclosure

A snow leopard has been shot dead after escaping from Dudley Zoo due to a ‘keeper error’.

The magnificent creature, an eight-year-old leopard who.d been named Margaash, broke free from his enclosure after a zoo keeper left it open.

The devastating incident occurred on October 23 at approximately 5pm, after visitors had already left the zoo, leaving members of staff ‘heartbroken’.

However, details have only just been released this morning (November 30), with Dudley Zoo confirming Margaash’s death ‘with enormous sadness’.

This announcement follows a disciplinary investigation into those involved which has now reached a conclusion. The zoo have not confirmed what the outcome of the investigation has been.

Margaash was killed by a single shot made by a senior member of the firearms team, and reportedly did not suffer.

A spokesperson told Birmingham Live how the decision was made ‘in the interest of public safety’:

Unfortunately, having no other option in the interest of public safety, the animal was euthanised by a senior member of the firearms team with a single shot and did not suffer.

Once keepers saw snow leopard Margaash outside, the animal escape procedure was implemented and managers were notified, while the firearms team managed the incident.

So they shoot a Snow Leopard at Dudley Zoo in England for public interest cause an idiot Zookeeper left the enclosure door open and another thing has anyone never heard of tranquilizer why is it always just execute the poor animal who done no wrong!

According to Birmingham Live, Zoo director Derek Grove said there’d been no other choice but to euthanise Margaash:

This was an incredibly sad incident and our staff are understandably heartbroken. Euthanasia is, and always will be, a last resort.

Efforts to persuade Margaash to return to his enclosure failed and as the animal was close to surrounding woodland and dark was approaching, the vet did not believe a tranquilliser dart was a safe option due to the amount of time the drug takes to work.

Safety of the public is always of paramount importance and our staff are highly experienced and rigorously trained.

A SNOW LEOPARD has died after getting out of its enclosure at Dudley Zoo.

Zoo statement: "Unfortunately, having no other option in the interest of public safety, the animal was euthanised by a senior member of the firearms team with a single shot and did not suffer. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/YclrrGbqTn

According to WWF UK, the survival of snow leopards in the wild is under threat due to poaching and climate change:

The elegant and well-camouflaged snow leopard is one of the world’s most elusive cats. Thinly spread across 12 countries in central Asia, it’s at home in high, rugged mountain landscapes. But poaching and climate change are now threatening its survival.

The snow leopard has a beautiful, spotted coat, thick enough to insulate them from the cold. Their wide, fur-covered feet distribute their weight over soft snow, like natural snowshoes.

Snow leopards are solitary creatures, and very successful predators, able to kill prey up to three times their own weight.

But poaching and conflict with people have reduced their numbers. They’re suspected to have declined by at least 20% in under two decades – although estimating populations is tricky because these cats are so elusive! [sic]

Poor poor Snow leopard 😢 It's habitat is mountain ranges not a cage at Dudley Zoo. It was pitiful to see. RIP Margaash.